Underahillapartyoffishermenhadlitawoodfire，theflamesofwhichcouldbeseenplayingupon，andpickingout，thewhitehullofaboat——thedarkfigureofamantherein，afishingnetsuspendedfromsomestakes，andawomaninayellowbodicewhowassittingbesidethefire。Also，amidthegoldenradiancetherecouldbedistinguishedaquiveringoftheleavesonthelowerbranchesofthetreewhereunderthewomansatshaded。
Alltheriverwascalm，andnotasoundoccurredtobreakthestillnessashore，whiletheairundertheawningofthethird-classportionofthevesselfeltasstiflingasduringtheearlierpartoftheday。Bythistimetheconversationofthepassengers，dampedbytheshadowofdusk，hadmergedintoasinglesoundwhichresembledthehummingofbees；andamiditonecouldnotdistinguishnordivinewhowasspeaking，northesubjectofdiscussion，sinceeverywordthereinseemeddisconnected，eventhoughallappearedtobetalkingamicably，andinorder，concerningacommontopic。Atonemomentasuppressedlaughfromayoungwomanwouldreachtheear；inthecabin，apartywhohadagreedtosingasongofgeneralacceptationwerefailingtohituponone，anddisputingthepointinlowanddispassionateaccents；andineach，suchsoundtherewassomethingvespertinal，gentlysad，softlyprayer-like。
Frombehindthefirewoodnearmeathick，raspingvoicesaidindeliberatetones:
“Atfirsthewasausefulyoungfellowenough，andcleanandspruce；butlately，hehasbecomeshabbyanddirty，andisgoingtothedogs。“
Anothervoice，loudandgruff，replied: